Day 26a : Farewell, Oliverios, Until Next Year!

Today is pack up day. The day we say goodbye until next year. The day we take our annual family photo on top of the tables. The day we promise each other that we'll be back again. During my childhood years saying goodbye to Sean and Brandon was hard... very, very hard. We only got to see each other a handful of times during the year *at best* and Oliverio Family Camp was a sure thing that we'd see each other again. Now - as I'm in my adulthood - I still get a bit weepy when saying goodbye. With life moving at such a rapid pace you never know when you'll see each other again, which makes the present very poignant. And special.

Looking back - almost a year later - I realize just how special 2009 Oliverio Family Camp was to my family and me. This was the last camp dad attended. God blessed him with good health and allowed him one more camp, one more chance to reunite with his brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, children and grandchildren. What a special, special time it was. Indeed.

My favorite family photo of them all!

After the family group shots, The BPs gathered together for one last hurrah. Since we formed our group over twenty years ago we've invested in a little ritual to open and close camp. The six of us would gather in a circle and Sean, our leader, would place his hand in the center. We would all take one hand and pile them on top of each other. Then we would chant, "We're Brave. Right. And True. We're Brave. Right. And True." Sean would ask, "Who are we?" And we would reply, "We're the Brat Patrol!" Cheesy? Yes. Enduring? Of course! Are we still doing it? We'll never stop. That's just how we roll.

Until next year, family!